Alice Jane Schwafel

Obituary for ALICE J. SCHWAFEL Alice Jane (Richards) Schwafel passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends at her daughter’s home on Thursday evening, August 22nd at the age of 91. Alice was born at the family home in Sacramento April 25, 1922 to W. Del and Myrtle Richards. She attended Donner Elementary School and Sacramento High School graduating in 1940. During high school she was an active member of Jobs Daughters and held the first (and best) of her jobs…as a Soda Jerk for Blake’s Ice Cream Parlor in northern Sacramento. Alice graduated from Sacramento Junior College in 1942 and then entered Chico State College majoring in Home Economics; completing her degree in the spring of 1944. Immediately following she joined the United States Navy and became a nurse during the later years of WWII. Her training was taken at Hunter College in New York and Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washington, DC after which she was assigned to Oak Knoll Hospital in the Oakland hills; working in the burn then maternity wards for the remainder of her tenure in the Navy. She was always a proud veteran and her enthusiastic patriotism became a part of her charm. In October 1946 her sister (Vivian Voigt Reichman) arranged a blind date for Alice with Edward P. Schwafel. Their attraction was immediate…after a whirlwind courtship they married April 6, 1947 in Stanford Chapel, Palo Alto. They honeymooned in Canada and settled in their first apartment in Berkeley. Alice and Ed moved to Vallejo in 1948 and Ed began Edward P. Schwafel Engineer Inc. in 1949 (a consulting firm that continued until 1981). Alice was always by Ed’s side and assisted in many activities related to the both the business and their extensive involvement in the community. Their daughter, Patricia, arrived in 1949 followed by son Stanley in 1952 and daughter Ellen in 1957. Alice became very involved in the Vallejo school system as her children moved through the various schools and was honored by the Pennycook PTA for her exceptional contributions. During their early years in Vallejo Alice and Ed became charter members of Wayside Methodist church. They worked very diligently in all the activities related to this new, developing church serving on various committees, women’s groups and gatherings, and events generated by the church growth. These were wonderful years and Alice, and the family, thoroughly enjoyed this time. As the years rolled on, and the children went off to school or set out on their own, Alice became very active in the Vallejo General/Sutter Solano Hospital Guild holding offices and working a number of services for over 25 years. In addition, she volunteered for Meals-On-Wheels and started a group called ‘The Good Cheer Visitors’ to visit and assist former hospital guild members who found themselves now shut-ins. She also worked diligently on all the activities related to the Vallejo Rotary Club, assisting Ed (a 40-plus year member); ultimately becoming an honorary member of the club herself. She was an active member of the Women’s Division of the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce. Ed and Alice enjoyed traveling to all parts of the world until Ed’s ill-health curtailed this. Ed’s death in 2002 and Alice’s decline in vision reduced this type of activity; however, she maintained her wonderful personality and interest in life and enjoyed those things she was still able to do (mostly at this point assisting and supporting the activities of her daughters and their interests). She kept up on current events and had an active concern of her community through the daily reading of the paper by her daughter Pat and watching every ‘Evening News’. Alice was a very gregarious person and her infectious smile and contagious laugh was enjoyed by so many throughout her career. Her Navy stint was followed for a short time by service for a doctor in Berkeley. After marriage she worked briefly for ‘Wonder Bread’ Company (as a door-to-door exhibitor introducing folks to this new ‘sliced bread’); then an accounting position at Vallejo’s Levees Department store. The arrival of her children curtailed her career outside the home. Right to the end her love of the San Francisco Giants guided her daily schedule. Ellen and Pat were gratified that she was able to enjoy every game of the 2013 season. She was unhappy when they lost but then would say ‘ you can’t win them all’ and be ready for a new game each day. There was no doubt that she had an enjoyment of life and people; a grand woman who will be sorely missed. Alice was predeceased by her parents; her husband (Ed); her sister (Vivian); and her brothers (Eugene, Robert, Leslie and Wayne Richards). The last ‘elder’ member of both her family (Richards) and Ed’s (Schwafel) she is survived by her loving daughters Patricia of Vallejo and Ellen (Gordon) Singleton of Concord; her son Stanley (Bridget) of Fairbanks, Alaska; her grandchildren Hilary Schwafel of Fairbanks and Schuyler Schwafel of Seattle, WA; her sister-in-law Oonagh Richards of Santa Rosa; and by numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will occur at Twin Chapels Mortuary, 1100 Tennessee Street, Vallejo on Monday and Tuesday (August 26th and 27th) from 4:00 to 8:00pm. ~ Services will be held Wednesday, August 28th at 1:00pm Wayside United Methodist Church, 2309 Columbus Parkway, in Vallejo. Contributions may be made in Alice’s memory to either the following or a charity of your choice: 1) Yosemite Conservancy, 1-800-469-7275 or http://www.yosemiteconservancy.org/gifts-memory. 2) Disabled American Veterans, 1-877-958-2233 or DAV.org. Please visit the online tribute at twinchapelsmortuary.com. Arrangements entrusted to the direction and care of Twin Chapels Mortuary, Vallejo (707) 552-6696.

Alice Jane Schwafel

April 25, 1922 - August 22, 2013